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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello announced in a media conference call this afternoon that the team has signed Cory Schneider to a long-term contract extension that will keep the 28-year-old goaltender from becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.

It is a seven-year, $42 million contract that carries an annual salary (and salary cap hit) of $6 million and includes a full no-trade clause. Schneider will make $4.5 million in 2014-15 (cap hit of $4 million) on the final season of his expiring three-year $12 million contract he signed with Vancouver in 2012.

The extension begins in 2015-16.

“The first word that comes is excitement,” Schneider said. “I’m excited to be a New Jersey Devil for a long time, hopefully the rest of my career. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but it’s something that both Mr. Lamoriello and the ownership and myself, it’s something we all wanted to get done. They were very serious about it, which was great.

“We didn’t go back and forth too much. I think we were both on the same page and we wanted to do something that was good for both of us and to see that kind of commitment and belief in me was good for me to see and made the decision all that much easier.”

The Devils acquired Schneider from Vancouver on June 30, 2013 for the ninth pick overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

With Martin Brodeur not expected back (he has yet to sign with another team), Schneider will be the Devils' clear-cut No. 1 goaltender next season with rookie Keith Kinkaid and veteran Scott Clemmensen expected to compete for the backup job in training camp.

Schneider said the Devils committing to him as their No. 1 next season, “was a part of it” as far as convincing him to make the long-term commitment to the Devils contractually.

“It was made very clear, you don’t make this kind of deal or do this kind of extension if they didn’t believe I was the guy or that I didn’t believe I was going to be the guy,” Schneider said. “There was sort of a mutual understanding without anything being said that this is kind of how things were progressing and that this was the next step in my evolution.

“I don’t think either side makes that commitment if you don’t believe you’re going to be the guy for next year and many years to come.”

Schneider was also happy with the direction the organization is headed and the clear financial commitment from owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer with some of the off-season moves the Devils have made such as signing free agent forwards Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat on July 1.

“Free agency is always exciting – the draft and trades and all that kind of stuff,” Schneider said. “You want your team to do whatever it can and I think the ownership has shown us a commitment to add players and to spend the money to be a good team and Mr. Lamoriello went out and did that and I’m really excited by the additions of Mike and Marty Havlat. I think it will help us up front. And, to give some our younger defensemen an opportunity because I think we all believe that they can be special players in this league, seeing that happen (is good).

“We weren’t very far off last year. A couple of bounces this way or that and things could have been a lot different, so to add players of this caliber and just to count on guys bouncing back and having years like they can is good to see.”

Lamoriello noted that he’s followed Schneider’s career since his prep school days at Andover High School in Massachusetts through his time at Boston College.

“He’s someone that we’ve coveted for a number of years and watching his consistency and also knowing the character of him, that’s very important in a goaltender,” Lamoriello said. “You have to have a goaltender who players want to play in front of, who respect each other. And Cory has that from his teammates and vice versa. So, there are so many reasons for it.

“Certainly, fundamentally, he’s an outstanding goaltender. In my opinion, he’s one of the top goaltenders in the league.”

Traditionally, Lamoriello does not negotiate contracts during the season. The only exception during the salary cap era was with Brodeur in 2005-06.

So, getting this settled now – the earliest Schneider could have officially signed an extension was on July 1 – avoids a potential distraction during the season.

“For me, I’ve never really gone through this before,” Schneider said.
“I don’t know how it would have played out during the year, but I’m glad it didn’t get to that point because it’s good to know that the team supports you and believes in you and that you can go about your business and just go out and prove that you’re the player you think you are and that they think you are. So, I don’t think it would have been a distraction by any means, but when both sides are committed to getting it done I think it’s better if it doesn’t drag out. They came with a strong offer and a strong commitment. That was great for me to see.”

This is what Lamoriello had in mind when he acquired Schneider at last year’s draft with two years left on his previous contract.

“We had one year to see him and to feel that we were either right or wrong in what we felt when we made the trade,” Lamoriello said. “He proved that right and for us to be able to get this now and put it behind us rather than wait this year and see how things transpired, there was no reason to do so. That’s the reason it took place from our end of it and the sooner you can do things when you know it’s what you want the better it is for everyone.

“But, to help this along a little bit, if Cory had to play out this year and we had to work towards it, I don’t think it would have affected his play or our thoughts on him whatsoever.”

Over his 20 seasons playing for the Devils, Brodeur never had a contract of more than six seasons. His highest annual salary was $6,891,103 in 2002-03 and 2003-04 before that figure was cut by 23 percent for 2005-06 as part of the agreement following the 2004-05 NHL owners’ lockout.

Lamoriello wouldn’t discuss any of the details of Schneider’s contract, but called it “a commitment for today and for a number of years.” Under the CBA, the Devils would have been permitted to sign him for as many as eight seasons.

“The length of it doesn’t matter because I think that Cory is going to play as long as he can possibly play at the level we all believe he can play,” Lamoriello said. “It’s longer than we’ve done in the past, but in our opinion it’s a great situation.”

Schneider’s extension only further solidifies the reality that Brodeur won’t be back. Both Brodeur and Lamoriello seemed to recognize that Brodeur could not be back in 2014-15 if the team was going to full commit to Schneider moving forward.

“I think that was something that didn’t necessarily pertain to me directly,” Schneider said. “That’s something that the organization and Marty had to come up with on their own and I respected that. I respected the fact that Marty has done what he’s done for this organization and the player and the person that he’s been. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. I’m sure it was a difficult process for Mr. Lamoriello and Marty because of the relationship they’ve developed over the years, but it definitely shows the commitment they were willing to make to me and, the fact that Marty’s had a fantastic career that may continue, to sort of say, ‘You’re the guy we feel comfortable with taking over the reins and moving forward’ it says a lot.”

Schneider said “it means a lot” to him that Brodeur stressed repeatedly the importance of the Devils locking up Schneider long term.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Marty as I think everyone does who’s met him or played with him,” Schneider said. “In spite of what may or may not have happened on the ice in terms of playing time, etcetera, he and I always got along. We had a good relationship and I think we respected each other. It’s tough to handle those scenarios if you don’t have that respect, but I think we did and that’s what made it easier to kind of split the games or play when we were supposed to play. To hear him say (the importance of the extension), it means a lot to me because he’s kind of passing his legacy on.”

Schneider wants to be sure he honors that legacy by giving the Devils the kind of top-level goaltending they had for two decades with Brodeur as their No. 1.

“I’m sure there’s going to be questions on replacing Marty Brodeur, but I think more of it along the line of just continuing the tradition of having great goaltending in New Jersey,” Schneider said. “It’s become synonymous with the organization- great defense, great goaltending. That’s in large part because of Marty. So, for me, to accept that mantle, I think is exciting and something I’m hoping to continue.”

Lamoriello said Brodeur recognized the Schneider’s importance to the organization going forward and fully accepted that the mantle had to be handed over to him. That’s why Lamoriello said he “wouldn’t use the word sadness” for how he felt about turning the page on the Brodeur era.

“Marty has had a tremendous career here and Marty will always be a Devil,” Lamoriello said. “Marty realizes what is necessary as far as the decision going forward with Cory because he was fortunate during his reign of having that in hand. He knew exactly what was needed. He was excited for the organization when we acquired Cory because he had so much respect for Cory as a player and also in the conversations Marty and I had throughout the year at different times … on different occasions said clearly we’re fortunate that this has happened.

“So, I don’t want to look at it (as) sadness. He’s had a great career. He’ll always be a Devil just in a different way. Right now, it’s just going forward. Time has a way of taking care of that and decisions have to be made.”

Lamoriello also doesn’t view it as Schneider replacing Brodeur.

“Marty’s legacy is what it is and Cory’s not here to replace Marty,” he said. “Cory’s here to establish his own identity, which he has done, and go forward with that. As Cory said, we’re just delighted because we go from one great goaltender to another and the philosophy of this organization has been build from the goaltender out and that will continue to be the philosophy.”

Schneider wasn’t sure what to expect when he was traded to the Devils last summer, mostly because he had never been traded before. He said the team did its best to make the transition a smooth one, though, which also factored into his wanting to stay in a New Jersey long term.

“For me, it was a transition to get traded,” he said. You don’t know what to think of it until it happens and you hear it happening and guys sort of adjust. For me, I didn’t know what to think until I went through it, but those fears or questions were easily answered the first time I got there. And the team and the organization did everything they could to make me comfortable and just sort of ease that transition and they did. Once you get the hang of it, you figure out what the Devils are all about, it’s easy to buy in and believe in it.

“The ownership seems to be great. They really seem to be wanting to win and willing to keep us a contending team. And Mr. Lamoriello, I think his track record speaks for itself on what he’s willing to do to win. So, I think it’s a great position. And, for me, I tend to be a loyal guy. I don’t really have a lot of interest in bouncing around from team to team, being on three teams in four years. I found a place that I really like and I think will be good for me and my career and my family and I think it was an easy decision.”

***

Schneider on if he’s done anything differently this off-season to prepare for playing 60-plus games for the first time in his career:

“A little bit. I’m always trying to adapt and trying to change with what is suiting. As you get older, your body changes. Even at 28, you’ve got to do things a little differently than you did at 22, 23. But I think my goal has always been to try to come in in the best shape I can and go from there. Perhaps, focus a little bit more on cardio or leg strength just to have the endurance to get through the season, but I’ve talked to some people and picked the brains of guys I know who have gone through this before and been doing it for a long time. You try to pick things up here and there, but on the whole I think it’s just trying to work hard and come in in the best shape I possibly can.”

***

Lamoriello acknowledged that with changes in the CBA over the last decade and the reduction of the age of unrestricted free agency it is necessary to be more proactive and lock up players a year before they hit the market. Chicago did similar today in signing stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to eight-year, $84 million extensions.

The Devils did similar before the start of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season in locking up Travis Zajac to a long-term extension.

“The CBA has changed the thought process with reference to key players,” Lamoriello said. “I think you have to pro-act or react a little different than you did in the past because of the age factor. Free agency now is 27 or 28 depending upon the individual where it was in the early 30s (before). And once you feel comfortable with the individual I think you go forward. … I think it takes a certain character that you put faith in besides ability. Talent is one thing, but you have to have someone who is going to sustain that and has tremendous pride in who they are and continue to compete against themselves and that’s the way we feel and we’ve over the last couple of years done it to a couple of other players and I’m sure it will happen in the future depending upon the individual.”

About

TOM GULITTI has covered the New Jersey Devils for The Record since 2002. Prior to that, he covered the New York Rangers for four years. Gulitti joined The Record in 1998 after six years at The North Jersey Herald News. He graduated from Binghamton University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric-Literature.